‘There’s no quit.’ Tahoma soccer wins 4A bidistrict championship with dominant defense
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Eight goals scored, no goals conceded, three wins. It was an efficient, dominant performance from Tahoma High School in the Class 4A District 3/4 boys soccer tournament over the past week.
Tahoma beat Curtis, 1-0, in the opening round last Saturday, exploded on offense for a 6-0 win over Olympia in the semifinals on Tuesday and beat Union in Thursday’s night championship game at Federal Way Memorial Stadium on Thursday, 1-0.
Left back Diego Flores was the hero in Thursday night’s championship win, sending a left-footed rocket from 35 yards out into the top right corner of the net for the game’s lone goal.
“Amazing shot,” Tahoma coach Rick Maloy told The News Tribune. “He takes a lot of shots with that left foot. He’s done it before this year and did it last year.”
Three clean sheets illustrated how good Tahoma’s defense has been this spring. It all starts with senior captain Shaw Nishizawa, a center back.
“He runs that defense, in practice, off the field stuff,” Maloy said. “He controls that back line. Every time we have a shutout, he’s the one keeping everyone together.”
Tahoma is fine winning tight, low-scoring games, but the six-goal effort against Olympia in the tournament semifinals showed some offensive prowess, too. Kevin Kershaw scored four goals (26th minute, 28’, 60’ and 76’). Shaw Nishizawa added a goal in the 38th minute and Cooper Tschimperle scored a goal in the 65th minute.
“It’s something we’ve been hoping for,” Maloy said. “To keep the ball on the ground and put it in, it felt good.”
Tahoma scored three goals in the first half and three in the second half in the win.
“It was the passing that set up the shots that made us happy,” Maloy said.
Tahoma is 18-0-1, undefeated with a draw against Kentridge early in the season.
“It’s the seniors we have that make it a special group,” Maloy said. “They’ve set goals for themselves. There’s no quit.”
The 4A state soccer tournament begins May 20-21. The semifinals and championship game will be held May 30-31 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. Tahoma figures to draw a top three seed — perhaps the No. 1 overall seed.
DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL SCORES
Class 3A District 3/4: No. 5 Heritage 3, No. 7 Central Kitsap 1
Class 2A District 3: No. 1 Bainbridge vs. No. 3 North Kitsap, 3 p.m. at Olympic High School on Saturday, May 17
Class 1A District 3: No. 1 Cascade Christian 4, No. 2 Vashon Island 2
